Lime Rock Park to host GrandAm test dayA media event at Lime Rock Park will be open to fans, free of charge as well:

Never before have Grand-Am’s Daytona Prototypes been to Lime Rock Park, but in preparation for their public debut on Memorial Day Monday (May 31), most of the teams in both the DP and GT categories will be testing Tuesday, April 27, coming straight to Lime Rock from their race at Virginia International Raceway April 24. Grand-Am expects 25 to 30 cars to be testing.

At this point, Hollywood star Patrick Dempsey, who drives the Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8 in the GT category, is expected to test.

Grand-Am, a NASCAR company, sanctions prototype and sports car racing in a championship called the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. These are the same cars and drivers that compete every year in the Rolex 24-Hour at Daytona. The “DP” cars are 500 h.p. prototypes built by a variety of chassis- builders, with engines from carmakers such as BMW, Ford and Porsche. Top speeds are 195 mph; at Lime Rock, we should see 155 mph or so down the front straight.

Leading Daytona Prototype teams and drivers include GAINSCO/Bob Stallings (2007 and 2009 champions) with drivers Jon Fogarty and Alex Gurney (son of Dan); Chip Ganassi (drivers Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, the 2008 champions; Pruett was also the 2004 champ); the two-car Michael Shank Racing team with drivers Oz Negri, John Pew, Michael Valiante and Brian Frisselle (son of famous sports car driver/car designer Brad); and Brumos Racing with David Donohue (Mark’s son) and Darren Law.

Grand-Am is using a track configuration that’s never been used before – the Optional (new) Uphill in combination with Classic (original) West Bend.

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